Merlin Works Newsletter is Now Online

smerlin · Post by **smerlin** » August 31st, 2010, 2:44 pm

What's the what, y'all?

I just finished the latest Merlin Works Newsletter. August issue has a Feature Article about Choking Under Pressure as well as updates about upcoming shows, links to my personal OOB recommendations, classes, books, and more.

Read it up!

http://merlin-works.com/public/newsletter_16.html

And if you wanna sign up for my fancy newsletter and get it hand delivered to your inbox, sign up at my website or http://listserv.merlin-works.com/mail.c ... erlinWorks

Deano · Post by **Deano** » August 31st, 2010, 4:38 pm

I love the new newsletter. I can get soooo ahead of myself. I gotta say, it's a little comforting to know that it still happens to the pros.

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · August 31st, 2010, 8:02 pm

great and insightful piece, Shana. i've struggled with this off and on throughout the years as i have a HUGE tendency to get stuck in my head. in Buddhism, it's said that desire for an object separates you from that object. to obtain the object, remove the desire. which is to say, want without wanting. sometimes i remember what that means and it helps.

then again, i haven't had a callback in two years, so it's kind of a moot point. lol!

jillybee72 · Post by **jillybee72** » September 3rd, 2010, 1:55 pm

I've felt really liberated since our workshop with Keith Johnstone, where he said in moments like these you should just "be efficient." I don't know why, but it really helps not to try to be the best, just to be efficient.

smerlin · Post by **smerlin** » January 6th, 2011, 11:49 am

New January newsletter online!

http://merlin-works.com/public/newsletter_17.html

mpbrockman · Post by **mpbrockman** » January 6th, 2011, 2:02 pm

jillybee72 wrote:I don't know why, but it really helps not to try to be the best, just to be efficient.

Firstly, great piece, Shana. Personally, most of my family drives me insane - but spending time with my SO and just with myself is always a recharging experience for me. But then I'm an introvert with a capital I. Saying "no" sometimes is a necessary part of taking care of myself.

Secondly and thirdly, Jill:

A) Trying not to be the best takes a lot of pressure off. That's conducive to good performance.

B) I think you have to remember sometimes that a 75% (in your case maybe 50%) is better than 99% of the population is capable of. Being too hypercritical of myself is one of my bugaboos and I have to remind myself that most people couldn't hop behind a keyboard and play an improvised musical performance. My getting it done "efficiently" if I'm not particularly inspired is perfectly acceptable (and just plain necessary) sometimes.

smerlin · Post by **smerlin** » March 18th, 2011, 3:23 pm

March newsletter online at http://merlin-works.com/public/newsletter_18.html

This month's article: scenes of deception and why they so often don't work in improv... Mighty topical with all this Noir and Western stuff going around...

SarahMarie · Post by **SarahMarie** » March 18th, 2011, 3:48 pm

LOVE IT.

I always do.

Yay for learning!

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · March 18th, 2011, 5:03 pm

excellent, as usual. i love improv incorporating dramatic irony and soliloquies and big revelations, which is something i want to try working on in the ramp up to Showdown. it's why the Hidden Secrets are probably my favorite section of Austin Secrets.

i wonder what Othello would look like if you took out all of Iago's asides and soliloquies...

Brad Hawkins · Post by **Brad Hawkins** » March 18th, 2011, 5:56 pm

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell wrote:i wonder what Othello would look like if you took out all of Iago's asides and soliloquies...

He'd still be black, and shame on you for wanting to change that.

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · March 18th, 2011, 8:25 pm

Brad Hawkins wrote:
Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell wrote:i wonder what Othello would look like if you took out all of Iago's asides and soliloquies...
He'd still be black, and shame on you for wanting to change that.

why would Iago be black? oh, because he's an evil schemer, he must be black? geez, Brad...i thought i KNEW you man...

trabka · Post by **trabka** » March 18th, 2011, 10:29 pm

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell wrote:
Brad Hawkins wrote:
Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell wrote:i wonder what Othello would look like if you took out all of Iago's asides and soliloquies...
He'd still be black, and shame on you for wanting to change that.
why would Iago be black? oh, because he's an evil schemer, he must be black? geez, Brad...i thought i KNEW you man...

I think he meant that even without Iago's asides, Othello (the character) would still be a Moor.

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell · March 18th, 2011, 11:22 pm

trabka wrote:
Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell wrote:
Brad Hawkins wrote: He'd still be black, and shame on you for wanting to change that.
why would Iago be black? oh, because he's an evil schemer, he must be black? geez, Brad...i thought i KNEW you man...
I think he meant that even without Iago's asides, Othello (the character) would still be a Moor.

...sigh.

irony is lost on the internets.

hujhax · Post by **hujhax** » March 20th, 2011, 10:37 pm

Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell wrote:
trabka wrote:
Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell wrote: why would Iago be black? oh, because he's an evil schemer, he must be black? geez, Brad...i thought i KNEW you man...
I think he meant that even without Iago's asides, Othello (the character) would still be a Moor.
...sigh.

irony is lost on the internets.

But not puns!

♪ When-a tha moon hits-a your eye like-a big pizza pie... ♫

--
peter rogers @ home | http://hujhax.livejournal.com

I play the accordion. In terms of thinking of it as a musical career, I think it's sort of like calling yourself an astronaut because you have a shiny suit.
-- Daniel Handler

smerlin · Post by **smerlin** » July 1st, 2011, 12:10 pm

The July 2011 Newsletter is out, featuring an article about the Life cycle of the Improviser. Does the story of my improv journey match up with yours? What Phase are you in?

http://merlin-works.com/public/newsletter_19.html